Mom and Pop Country Stores

My thanks to Barbara Demko for sending me this photo of a Mom and Pop Country Store she spied in Beulaville, North Carolina during her trip to that area last week. As always, note the common country store features – a porch, bench, gas tank, ice box, pickup truck etc..

Photo by Barbara Demko

Funny isn’t it that you always hear about “Mom and Pop Stores” and here’s one that’s actually named that. However, I wonder if this particular Country Store in North Carolina really did have a mom and a pop running it. I can go them one better. Buzzy and my Mom bought the Store from her Dad in 1953 and we lived there until 1965 when we moved down Curley Road. So whereas other establishments may call themselves a “Mom and Pop store,” Buzzy’s really was one – literally.   Guess I need to lobby for folks to start referring to these as a “Son Store.” 

My Mom and Pop Behind The Counter at Their Mom and Pop Store

P.S. I keep this photo on display directly behind the Store counter.  When folks comment on it I tell them “Well, they’ve been watching over my shoulder all of my life, so why change things now?”